INSECTS. 



35 



study of the life and habits of these insects will we gain the 

 knowledge of their secret, and find out how to aim our efforts so 

 as to accomplish their destruction. In this there is much yet to 

 be learned. Let each, then, avail himself of the information we 

 now possess, and give to these robbers of our orchards and gar- 

 dens such diligent attention, that our means of fighting them 

 may be improved, and their numbers largely diminished. 



The growing and marketing of fruit is already assuming con- 

 siderable importance iu some parts of the country, and fruit is 

 becoming one of our commercial products. They who would 

 reap from their orchards the surest and largest golden harvest, 

 must send to market the finest and fairest fruit, and this can only 

 be done by him who most perseveringly and most intelligently 

 wages war upon these tiny insect foes, which accomplish by dint 

 of numbers a work of destruction to which, regarded as indivi- 

 duals, they seem to be wholly inadequate. 



The Tent Caterpillars. — These caterpillars are widely 

 distributed throughout the country, and are sometimes so 

 numerous as to strip the leaves from entire orchards. There are 

 two species; they are called the 

 American and Forest Tent Cater- 

 pillars, and get their name from 

 their habit of making themselves 

 tents to dwell in. Fig. 23, c, is a 

 representation of a cluster or brace- 

 let of eggs from which these cater- 

 pillars are hatched. They are 

 fastened, as shown in the en- 

 graving, around some small twig 

 of the tree, conveniently near the 

 buds from which the leaves are to 

 grow upon which the young cater- 

 pillars are to feed. As the buds 

 burst and the tender leaves put Fig. 23. 



forth, on some day when the air is warm and full of moisture, 

 the young caterpillars are hatched. K the leaves be not yet 



